The world's largest Orthodox Church prepares for its first liturgy

Romania is preparing for the Nov. 30 celebration of the Feast of St. Andrew when it plans to the hold the first-ever Divine Liturgy in a towering new cathedral in the eastern European nation’s capital, Bucharest.

Construction of what is believed to be the world's largest Orthodox church began eight years ago and includes relics of St. Andrew, Romania's patron saint.

Guests at the cathedral's consecration this past Sunday included the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, who in October granted independence to the Ukraine Orthodox Church despite Russian Orthodox opposition.

Batholomew’s presence in Bucharest was seen as an indication of Romanian support, according to emerging-europe.com.

There has been controversy over the high cost of construction, estimated at 110 million euros (US$125 million) so far, mostly government funds.

Many Romanians have complained about a lack of proper financial controls.

A Bucharest city councilor has called on the church to at least provide quarterly reports on how the money is being spent.

Questions have also been raised about a claim that the cathedral is nearly complete, with critics arguing that it will take several years further work and millions of euros more in public and church funds.

It was almost 150 years ago that king Carol I proposed a new cathedral.

Construction was sped-up this year so the massive church would be ready for the 100th anniversary on Dec. 1 of Romania's 1918 unification of its eastern and southern parts with Transylvania.

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